EFL 2018: Park Orchards falls one game outside the top four after Croydon pulls off a last-gasp win

A WOUNDED Park Orchards was left to rue one that slipped away after falling to a one-point loss against Croydon to leave the Sharks one game outside the Division 2 top four.

Park Orchards recruit Jarrod Wright gets a kick away. Picture: Davis Harrigan

A WOUNDED Park Orchards was left to rue one that slipped away after falling to a one-point loss against Croydon on Saturday to leave the Sharks one game outside the Division 2 top four.

The Sharks brought back seven players from injury but the Blues pinched a last-gasp win after Harry Dempster’s set shot in the final 30 seconds hit the post to give his side a 9.10 (64) to 9.9 (63) win.

The result was further soured for Park Orchards when Samuel Heron was rushed to hospital after suffering a broken leg.

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The game stopped for 20 minutes early in the first quarter as an ambulance was called, with Heron undergoing surgery on Sunday morning.

After losing seven players to injury in the Round 10 game against Wantirna South, the Sharks rushed back Daniel Gorringe, Matthew Nicholson, Michael Fowkes, Jacob Price-Inglis and Michael Philp.

Park Orchards coach Jarrod Bayliss. Picture: Davis Harrigan

But their inclusions were not enough for Park Orchards to post their seventh win of the season, instead falling to its third consecutive defeat.

Coach Jarrod Bayliss, who is also on the sidelines with injury, said his side’s campaign would be “on the line” against Lilydale on Saturday.

“We haven’t been playing bad footy … you lose that much quality in two weeks, the competition is too even to lose that much quality and continue to keep winning games,” Bayliss said.

“(It’s) never over until it’s over, we just need to focus on getting the four points next week and getting back on the board and if we can do that we still give ourselves every chance.

“They’re all winnable games, there is no one that is not beatable, we’ve just got to start playing our best footy again.

“We need our leaders to stand up and start playing a little bit better.”

After surprising to win the Division 3 competition last year, Bayliss said competing against seasoned second tier sides was taking its toll on his side.

“We probably went (up) a bit early than we should have and then obviously had a really good start to the season,” he said.

“Our depth and our injuries, we’ve got some really good young players but when the weather conditions and the type of conditions have been rolling out for us, it doesn’t really suit those body types.

“They are up to it, they all have a crack, they never give in, it’s just if you lose your quality at the top end, every side is going to struggle.”